Arrested Judge Tells DSS He Made His Money From Rice Business

One of the judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in its October 14 operation says he made the money found in his house from his rice business, a security source has said.The judge, whose identity was not revealed, denied that it was proceeds from crime.The DSS said it confiscated nearly N100 million in cash from the residences of some of the judges, while foreign currencies running into hundreds of thousands of dollars and tens of thousands of pounds were also confiscated.

“One of the judges said he made his money legitimately, that he sells rice. He said this in a written statement,” the source said, pointing out that the claim is subject to verification since there will be paper trail and taxes involved.

Another judge said the foreign currencies found on him were his unspent estacode – the allowances paid to government officials on foreign trips, usually in dollars.

“The amount discovered which he claimed to be estacode beggars belief, but then it makes investigation easier since the documents can be traced and subjected to forensic tests,” he said.

He denied claims that a judge was arrested at gunpoint.

“The judge resisted arrest and called for his lawyer. Ironically, the lawyer came on the scene and affirmed that the search warrants were in order and the judge was arrested,” the source added.